Shearing machine



`SHEARING MACH-INE Fi1e1.Nov .5,192e 11 Ashefw's-shee'cll l l l l Y I v Inn L Il i .Y f@ In I il :IZIIIZIU l I i I' I I l l j :a Q.. W l

June 17, 1930.

A. J. BATES, JR

SHEARING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1926 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 June17, 1930.

` A. J. BATES, JR

SFIEARING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 192e 11 sheets-sheet s U .Ni

l-l Ill- 1mlul June 17,- '1930. A, 1 BATES, JR 1,764,285

SHEARING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1926 11 Sheets-Sheet` 4 J. BATES, JR

SHEARING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5,

11 sheets-sheer .5

A.lum 17, 1930. 'A1, BATES, JR 1,754,285

.SHEARI'NG MACHINE Filed Nov. 5., 192s 11 sheets-sheet 7 June 17, 1930. A. J. BATES, JR

SHEARING MACHINE v Filed Nov. 5, 1926 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 Ao Zvw A.\\\\\\ i?,

iq on 'm 4F l c 10 1 Y 10 June 17,1930. J. BATES, JR' 1,764,285

- SHEARIG MACHINE. I

Filed Nov. 5, 1926 usheet- Sheet 16 Patented June 17, 1930 UNIT@ STATES punireA ALBERT J. BATES, JB., 0B CHICAGO, ILLINoIs-,AssIGNoB To BATES IIXPAiiInEnFsriirut.il TBUss C0., 0F EAST CHICAGO, INDIANA, A CORPORATION' or nELAWfAREf-Y? -Y SHEABING MACHINE Applieation lerl November 5, 1926. Serial No.- 146,332.

The invention relates to shearing machines and more particularly to machines of the reciprocating type for slitting or shearing coldheavy steel used in expanded trussed structures, such as beams or columns.

In shearing slits in beams or bars for expanded metal structures, a desideratum is to provide a unitary machine which is adapted for shearing different sizes of beams. In practice, it is necessary to cut the slits of different lengths, according to the length of the trussed members or strands and the extent of the expansion desired in different finished structures. Objects of the invention are to provide: a unitary shearing machine of the reciprocatory type adapted for this varying work, which may be quickly adjusted for different work; a machine of this type with means to control the operation of the shear-members to automatically render them periodically inoperative Vto shear and to form intact portions in predetermined portions, such as the ends of the beam; a machine of this type with improved mechanism for adjusting the shearing mechanism for different transverse spacings between them, so that the width of the strand between the slits may be varied, according tothe shearing desired in the work; amachine of this type with reciproca-tory workfeeding mechanism that may be readily adjusted and varied for differentwork; improved cutting devices for shearing slits in beams without tearing the metal adjacent the ends of the slits; and a machine for cutting a beam along different lines to form slits with bonds between them, so that the slashes which have a tendency to spreadvthe beam are formed subsequently to the slits along the other lines. y

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this typejin which the shearing mechanisms may be readily adjusted-longitudinally of the work to prop erly position them for cutting slits along diferent lines and according' to different lengths of strands desired in different work.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for delivering the work to and from the` shearing mechanisms,

which is readily adjustable tofacilitate the n setting of the machine for worlron beams of different cross-sectional shapes or sizes. l

Other objects ofthe invention will appear from the specification., Y

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more par ticularly defined by claims atjthe conclu.- sion hereof. j

In'the drawings: Figs. 1,1%, lb are plan views of the central end portions'of the machines, the carriages for shearingA and resfetf` ting mechanisms being shownl in sectionV in Fig. l. Fig. 2 is'a'front elevation of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. l. Fig. 2a is a front elevation of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. l, parts being broken away. Fig 2b is a transverse section on line 2b-2"V of Fig 2a. Fig. 2c is a transverse section on line 2c2c of Fig. 2a.. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. lb, parts being broken away. Fig; 3 is a section-on line 25a-3 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3b is a section online 31;31) of Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a transverse seC-. tion on line l-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a longi tudinal section of one ofthe shearing mech# anisms on line 5-5`of Fig. 5a. Fig. 5a is a section on line fVfL Vof Fig. 5. Fig. V5b is a transverse section of one of the shear- 'ing mechanisms for cutting the central line of slits in the work.- Fig.V 6 is a transverse section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2, showing" the mechanism for operating the reciprocatory worlrfeeding mechanism. Fig. 6a is a section on line 66t of Fig.V 6." Fig. Z is a trans'- verse section through the mechanism for resetting thefdeflected metal adjacentthe cut after 4it hasbeen shea-red. Fig. 8 is a plan of the intermittently operated` carriage for feeding thc work step-by-step through 'the machine. Fig. 8la isa section on line 8?-89 of Fig. 8. Fig. 8b is a section on line S19-+8b of Fig. 8. Fig. 8c is a perspective of one `of the controllerdevices for the throw-out devices for the shearing mechanisms. 9 is a'diagrammatic plan of the work to be cut, the reciprocable shearing elements and the charger lor feed-bar. Fig. 9a isay diagrammatic front elevation of the parts ciov yes

shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 9b is a plan of the beam, showing the method of shearing the web. Fig. 10 is a detail section showing the yielding connection for the arms which carry the work-guides adjacent the cutter and resetting mechanisms. Fig. 10a is a detailof a. pair of coacting cutters showing their operation in shearing the front end of a slit. Fig. l()b is a similarview, showing the cutters shearing an intermediate portion of the slit and Fig. 10c is a similar View, showing the cutter-shearing the rear end of a slit.

The invention is exemplified in a machine for shearing the work-a beam F with a web f and fianges fl-with three series of slits to form a double expanded structure which comprises, a mechanism A for shearing a series of slits a adjacent one flange of the beam; mechanism A2 for shearing a central series of slits ai in the web; mechanism A for shearing the series of slits a? adjacent the other flange of the beam; mechanism B for resetting the defiected metal adjacent the slashes; and feed-mechanism for intermittently advancing the work step-bystep through the shearing and resetting mechanisms.

The supporting structure of the machine comprises a bed C (Fig. 2)' on which4 the carriages for the shearing and resetting mechanisms are mounted; a frame for supporting the devices which guide the work to the shearing mechanisms, composed of channel beams D (Figs. l and 2a) and supporting brackets d, cl, d2 and cl3 on which the beams D are fixedly secured; and a frame for supporting the devices which guide the beam after it has been cut composed of channel beams E (Figs. lb and 3) and lbrackets e, e', e2 and e3 to which said beams are fixedly secured.

rlhe beam F, exemplifying the work to be sheared, is supported and guided to the shearing mechanism by a series of rollers g adjacent one flange of the beam and a series of rollers g adjacent the other flange (Figs. l, 2 and 2b). The bottom face of the web f of the beam rides on the peripheries of these rollers. The beam F is confined against transverse movement and guided longitudinally by flanges gf formed on the rollers g, g respectively and which are provided with faces to engage the outer faces of the flanges of the beam F. Each of said rollers g is vmounted on a cross-shaft g" which extends through and is axially slidable in beams D to permit the rollers with their flanges to be adjusted transversely of the frame to adapt them to guide beams of different widths. T o facilitate the simultaneous adjustment of all of said rollers, the shafts g7 of the rollers g extend through a bar g8, and the shafts 97 of rollers g extend through a shifter-bar gf. These bars are confined between said sets of rollers respectively and pins g1 on shafts g?, so that transverse movement of the bar g8 will simultaneously adjust the rollers g for one side of the beam F and bar g9 is similarly connected to shafts 97 for rollers g', which are similarly confined on said shafts, so that said rollers may be simultaneously and conjointly adjusted to or from one another by the shift of said bars. Bars g8 and gf are simultaneously adjustable transversely to equidistantly adjust them to or from each other vto position them to guide beams of different widths, by screwrods g12 which have their ends journalled and confined in beams D and are provided with right and left screw-threads which are threaded to said bars; sprocket-wheels g1 fixed to the screw-shafts g12 respectively; and a chain g15 which passes around all of said sprockets so that when the chain is operated both of the bars g8 and gf will be adjusted towards or from each other to correspondingly shift the guide-rollers g, g for the beam F. Chain gl5 is guided by idlers gw. One of the screw-shafts g12 is extended as at g and provided with a polygonal terminal, so-that a crank or wrench may be applied thereto to operate the chain g. rIhis construction exemplifies guide-means for the work which may be quickly adjusted to guide beams of different widths. v

The means for guiding (Figs. l, 1a QC) the work (beam F) transversely while it is passing through the shearing and resetting mechanisms comprises a pair of bars 7L adapted to be engaged by the outer faces of the flanges of the beam F. Said bars have their terminals flared, as at 7L', (Fig. l) to direct the beam between them. At either end, each of these bars is supported by a transversely adjustable standard 712 (Fig. Standards 71,2 for supporting one end of the guide-bars 71, are adjustably secured to the supporting-bracket Z3 by bolts 71)3 and slots 7b4 which permit the brackets to be adjusted to and from each other to vary the spacing between the guide-bars 7L for beams of different widths. Standards 71,2 for supporting the other end of bars 71. are similarly connected to the supporting-bracket e. The standards 71,2 of each pair are adjustable by means ofA a screw-rod 71,5 which is provided with right and left-hand threads which are threaded to the lower ends of the standards, so that by turning the rod, both the standards of a pair will be simultaneously and equidistantly adjusted to or from each other.` This structure exemplifies adjustable means l for supporting work of different widths and properly guiding it transversely while it is being sheared and reset.

The sheared beam is supported vertically by a series of rollers z' (Figs. 3, 3, 3") which are disposed between the frame-beams E and are shaped so that the edges of the fianges Y guided and supportedinalignment with the beam as it is passing through the shearing mechanism. Shafts 4 and arms 3 for the entire series of rollers z' are conjointly adjustable, and for thatpurpose one of 'each pair of arms 2 is formed with a downwardly extending lever '5 (Fig. 3) and an adjusting bar 6 is pivoted, as at 7, to the lower ends of each of the levers 5. A screw s on one end of bar e is provided with adjusting nuts 2 which are adapted to engage a slotted bracket lo to longitudinally adjust the bar G and effect the simultaneous adjustment vof the rollers z' by the adjustment of said nuts. An index 11 is fixed to the bracket e3 and a scale 12 is provided on the bar G to indicate the dierent positions of the rollers for convenience in adjusting them for beams F of different widths. This exemplifies supporting and guiding means for the sheared beam `which is adapted to support beams with different widths after they leave the shearing mechanism.

The shearing mechanism A is supported by a stationary carriage a4, and each of the shearing mechanisms A', A2 is supported in a carriage a2 which is adjustable longitudinally of the work. Each carriage a5 is longitudinally adjustable on the bed C so that the shearing mechanisms A', A2 may be adjusted relatively to the mechanism A and relatively to eachother to position them for shearing the initial slashes of slits of different lengths, so they will be spaced apart longitudinally to relatively position theVV slits according to the length of the strands and the expansion desired in the finished beams. The carriages a5 are each mounted to slide longitudinally on tracks or guides aaO formed in a plate c (Fig. 4) which. is anchored to the bed C. Boltsa31 extendrthrough each of said carriages and their heads are adapted toslide in laongitudinal ways L32 in plate c. Vhenthe bolts are tightened, they serve .to hold the vcarriages in assigned positions and when loose permit them to be shifted. Each carriage a5 is adapted to be readily shifted by gearing comprising a cross-shaft c2 journalled in bearings 03 on the carriage, a pinion o* rotatable by said shaft and meshing with a gear c? which is fixed to a shaft cG which is journalled in bearings c7 mount-ed on the carriage, and pinions 08 fixed to the outer ends of shaft 0G and meshing with longitudinal racks o9 which are xed to and housed in angle bars 010 which are fixed to the Vbe so adjusted by a `plate o., Each shaft 02 may be turned by a wrench or crank to shift the carriage longitudinaily of the work in Aeitherv direction. This exemplifies mechanism for shifting two of the shearing mechanisms, so the spacing between them may be varied according to the longitudinal spacing between the beginning of the slits. The shearing mechanisms `A, A and A2 are similar in construction soV that a description of one is applicable to all. y v Y Y j Each of said mechanisms (Fi s. 52, r5") comprises a stationary shear-bla' e a6 and reciprocable shear-blade all, Blade a"s is removably held and clamped between a plate a and the vertical wal-l a of a bed al".

`Movable shear-blade a is removably secured to a head @'12 by bolts a and a clamping plate w14. The head w12 for the reciprocable shear blade all is fulcrumed in a shaft a15(Fig. 4) at the back of the carriage. The coacting shear blades aresadjustable transversely so that they may be set for different transverse spacings to vary the width of the strands, when desired for shearing different work. For this purpose, each bed al for theV stationary shear-blades a;6 is slidably mounted on its carriage and may screw al which extends through a bracket a on the 'carriage and is threaded to a depending lug 1,12 on `said bed. Bolts a19 extend through slots in the bed at to lock the bed in its adjusted position.A A screw a2 is provided to adjust the carriage backwardly to its desired position. To permit the movable lcut-ter head 1.12 to be correcutting edge spondingly adjusted to keep its j j coactively positioned with respect to yblade a6, its fulcrum-shaft a is mounted in a pair offsuspension links L21 which are hung from a pivot (L22 which `is stationarily supported in its associated carriage.

travel of the work and to be adjusted by a screw a2* which passes through a block e241 which is pivoted in the lower end of links a and has a nut to limit the backward movement of the fulcrum links and a set screw @25 whichl extends through a block @25 which is secured to the lugs on the lower ends `of links (021 and forces the links backwardly against the nut on screw w24 to lock the links 121 in their assigned position. An anvil a2 support-s the metal to limitits deflection by the blade a and permits the said blade to shear and bend the metal between the anvil and the stationary shear-blade.

This anvil is mounted on the bed ai and is transversely adjustable with the shear-blade a. The anvil is connected to the bed by means of slots am in lugs which straddle the bed and bolts Z22 which clamp the anvil to the bed. These slots permit the anvil to be adjusted relatively to the stationary shearblade a to control the line of the bend of Links @21 are pivoted to swing transversely to the line of the `metal adjacent the line of the shear.

... fio

This exemplifies a pair of coacting stationary and reciprocable shear-blades which are adjustable transversely to the line of travel of the work to permit them'to be adjusted for different spacings between the slits and for slitting diiferent'portions of the webs of beams. An index L28 is provided on the shaft w15 and a scale a2 is secured to the associated carriage, so that the operator may set the movable shear-blade in the position desired by the dimensions of the scale.

. In transit through the shearing and resetting mechanisms, the web of the beam being operated upon is supported vertically by the stationary shear-blades and the supports am and the anvil 7) of the resetting mechanism. Transversely, the work is guided by thekbars 7L between which the work passes. The bars 7L are held against spreading by front and rear abutment-heads 7b2, one pair of which is associated with each cutting mechanism. Each front head 7b2 is threaded to a screw 7L21 which is supported by the 'associated carriage. The rear head 7120 is similarly threaded and held rigid by a screw 7L22, the rear end of which is forked to straddle arm 7t21 and hold said screw against rotation. y

Each rear head 71.20 is carried by an arm 7L201 whichr is pivoted at 205 to the cuttercarriage with which it is associated. Each arm 71,201 is subjected to a comparatively light spring-pressure so the' rearguide bar 7b will exert sufficient yfriction upon the beam F being sheared to prevent overthrow of the beam by the step-by-step feeding mechanism, and is also movable in opposition to greater spring-pressure, when the beam is spread, deformed or irregular in shape. For this purpose, each pressure-device for these arms comprises an I-bolt 203 pivoted at 204 to one'of the carriage-frames. c A sleeve encircles and is vertically slidable on the shank of said I-bolt, passes through an opening 207 (see Fig. 10) in the rear end of the 4arm 7L211., and is provided with a shoulder 20S at its upper end against which the arm 7L21-abuts. A pair of nuts 209 are threaded to bolt 203 to adjustably limit the upward limit of movement of the sleeve on the bolt and to fix the normal position of the arm. A heav spring 210 is coiled around sleeve 206 anc is interposed between the arm 71.2O1 and adjustable nuts211 which are threaded to the lower end of the sleeve, to normally holdv the arm against shoulder 208. lThe sleeve extends below nuts 211 and is pressed upwardly by a comparatively 'light spring 212 which is interposed between the lower end of sleeve 206 and a collar 213 which is threaded to the lower end of bolt 203 and klocked in its adjusted position by a nut V214.

which is also threaded to said bolt. Spring' 212 presses the sleeve 206 upwardly with the. desired degree of force toy 'apply suflicient pressure to the work to prevent its overthrow by the step-by-step feeding mechvanism. The movement of the sleeve on bolt arrest the downward movement of the sleeve permitted by spring 212, so the heavy spring 210 will be rendered effective to resist fuither movement of the arm 71.201. `This occurs when,under abnormal conditions, such as when a flange on the beam F or other work is bent or dented. This construction exemplifies a device for frictionally guiding the work to prevent overthrow with the minimum pressure necessary for that purpose, and in which the additional movement of the guiding means, necessary when the work is deformed, is resisted by heavy springpressure.

The mechanism for driving and operating the movable cutter-heads (Figs. 4, 5 and 511) comprises an electric motor K suitably mounted on the carriage a* of the shearing mechanism A; a pinion 7c on the shaft of the motor, a gear 7a2 driven by said pinion and fixed to a shaft 7a2 which is journalled in brackets 7a4 and 705 mounted on the carriage ai", a pinion k fixed to a shaft 7c3, a gear 707 driven by pinion 7c, and a longitudinally extending shaft S, to which gear 7:1

is fixed, which extends through the carriages for, and drives all of, the shearmechanisms. An eccentric 7cmv is drivably and fixedly connected to the shaft 7a2 by a key 7c11 and operates the shear-mechanism A, and

yis `confined in the forked upper portion of the carriage a4 and journalled in bearings 752 fixed in said carriage. An eccentric 7G10, is similarly mounted in each of the carriages a5 for the shear mechanisms A and A2, and shaft 70S is connected to drive them by keys which are adapted to slide in a longitudinal key-way 7012 in said shaft so that the shearmechanisms A and A2 will be driven by said shaft rand so Vas to permit the carriages a for the shear lmechanisms A and A2 to be adjusted relatively to each other and to maintain lthe driving relation between shaft 708 and the ecceutrics Vfor said mechanisms in all positions of the carriages. Each eccentric 7c'1" operates a link 7014 which is connected to one of the heads L12 of the movable shear-blades to impart a reciprocatory motion to said blade.

In shearing beams for joists or other structural steel, it is sometimes desired to control the operation of the movable shearblades to leave predetermined port-ions of the beam unsheared. For example, in the formation of expanded metal joists, it is advantageous to omit the top and bottom slits adjacent the ends of the beam and to form only the central slit (Fig. 9b), so that the terminals of the flanges of the beam will be left with the webs thereon of greater width than the web-portions in the meshes to reinforce the end portions of the joists. F or this purpose, adjustable devices are provided to render each of the-shear mechanisms A. A inoperative when desired. Each link Zal* carries an abutment block Z (see Fig. 5) which is fixed to a pin Z which is pivoted in lugs Z2 on the head am and slidable vertically in slots Z4. Normally, this abutment block engages a shoe Z3 which is fixedly held in a slot in the end of link Zou. When the abutment block Z is swung forwardly to clear the shoe Z3, the link ZrMmay be reciprocated by the eccentric Z610 without imparting an operative stroke to the head alg and the shear-blade carried thereby. An arm Z5 is fixed to one end of the pin Z and is automatically controlled by mechanism hereinafter set forth to time the inoperative periods of the shear-mechanism as desired according to the Work. Arm Z5 is normally' and yieldingly held by a spring Z6 in position to render the abutment block Z operative by the link Z314.

Mechanism B (Fig. 7) is provided to'reset the deflected metal back into its normal plane after it has been sheared and this is mounted in a carriage b which is mounted so it may be adjusted longitudinally on the plate c by mechanism similar to that used for adjusting the carriages ,IP of the shear mechanisms A and A?, so that the resettinor mechanism may le adjusted to operate at the proper points after the beam has been sheared. This resetting mechanism comprises an anvil Zi over which the web of the beam to be sheared passes. This anvil is mounted in a head Z. The anvil is slidably adjusted in the head Z and adapted to be securedV in its adjusted position by bolts os, so that the anvil may be said to bring its working face to the proper elevation and engage the bottom face of tho web of the beam which has been cut. The head Z is supported by the carriage Z1* and secured thereto by bolts ZJ3 which extend through slots in the head so it may be transversely adjusted on the carriage Z). A stud Z# under the anvil ZJ is slidable in the head Zf" and rests on an arm Zr which is pivoted at its rear end on a pin Zn which is supported in the carriage The front end of said arm is supported by a bolt b'lv of limited tensile strength, so that if the anvil is for any reason subjected to excessive stresses, the bolt will break and permit the arm Z2* to drop and render the resetting mechanism inoperative. The resetting mechanism also comprises a reciprocable hammer b9 which is removably held by bolts Z910 in a head bu which is fulcrumed at its rear end on a shaft Z 12 which is carried by links b1d which are hung on a pin Z914 supported by the carriage so that the hammer may be adjusted transversely to the work to operate 0 upon different portions of the sition of the link 613 is controlled by a screw Z215 which extends through a block Z216 which is pivoted in the lower ends of links Z913 and web. The po- 'E engaged by the nut on said screw and a. set- ..7

screw L which is threaded to a block 618 which is secured to the lower ends of said links. The head b of the hammer Z910 is reciprocated by the drive-shaft Zas which is extended to slide through the carriage Z; andss is connected to operate said head by means of an eccentric Z010, a link Z514 and an agbutment block Z similar 1n construction to those used for operating the movable cutter heads.

This exemplifiesV a resetting mechanism,85

which is adjustable longitudinally and transversely to different positions and which is driven from the shaft/r:3 which drives the shearing mechanisms; also a construction b which the resettinlr `mechanism will be.- 0 y c .9

rendered inoperative in event it is subjected to stresses which are likely to result in breakage such as would occur if the stroke of the hammer shouldV be incorrect, or the Work should be of excessive thickness.

Mechanism is provided for automatically feeding the Work to the shearing mechanism step-by-step, so that the beam will be fed between the active cycles of the reciprocatory shear-blades and also to periodicallypylOO feed the Work, so the shearing mechanisms Will skip to form bonds or leave the intact portions desired between the strips of metal which are to form the strands or truss-members of an expanded beam. Thisd4 this bar M (Figs. 6, 6a) comprises a wrist-I -115 pin m2 which is operated by a crank m3 fixed to one end of and continuously rotating with the shaft las which drives the shearing and resetting mechanisms; a block ma on said pin and slidably mounted in in the front end of a lever/m,6 which is pivoted on a stud m7 supported by the carriage a4 of the shearing mechanism A; a composite link m8 pivoted at m9 to the rear end of lever m6 and at m10 is pivoted at m12 to said carriage at; a link m13 pivoted at m14 to arm m and at m15 to an arm m16; a transverse shaft m17, mounted in bearings m18, and keyed to arm Y m16;

at least equal town() a way m5 formed 120 to a rocker m11 which 125 an arm m19 keyed to thefront end of 130 shaft m17; a link m20 pivoted at m21 to arm m19; and a lever m22 which is fulcrumed at m23 on the frame-b 'acket e (Fig. 2) and has its lower end pivoted at m2* to the link m20, and its upper end pivoted at m25 to a rod m26 which is connected to one end of the charger-bar M. The pivot-pin m21, between the link m2 and the arm m19, is adjustable to and from the axis of shaft m17 to permit the stroke imparted to the feed or charger bar to be varied for different work. The pivot pin m21 extends through a slot m24 in arm m1 and is provided with a nut by which it may be secured in its assigned position. The lever m2? lcomprises an upper member m25o which is connected to the lever by a pin 071,251 which will shear when subjected to excessive stresses, so that if the work should be obstructed, the charger bar will not be damaged.

The teeth m on the bar M are adapted to intermittently step forward a carriage N (Figs. 8, 8, 8b) which is provided with a dog n pivoted therein at n and which is successively engaged by the front faces of said teeth. The carriage N is provided with an extension n2 to engage one of the flanges of the work and with a retaining finger n3. This carriage is mounted to slide on an angle bar n4 which extends longitudinally of the machine and is fixed to the front channel beams D and E, so that the carriage N will be guided throughout the length of the machine and a suflicient distance to feed av beam to be sheared of maximum length through the shearing mechanism. This carriage is provided with rollers a7 and as to engage side faces of the angle bar a* and with shoes n.11 to ride on the horizontal flange of bar n, The extension n2 of the carriage is formed on asection n which is pivoted tothe carriage al to permit the abutment n? to be swungupwardly to clear the work when desired. The dog a may be lifted and disengaged from the charger bar when the carriage N is to be retracted to successively feed beams F. The bar M extends through a guide-way am in the carriage N. During each reciprocation of the feed or charger bar M, one of the teeth m on the bar will engage the dog a to feed the carriage `N and the work forwardly one step. The work is advanced a stroke somewhat less than the width of the shear-blades, so that the cuts will overlap to form continuous slits, as shown in Fig. 9", it having been found that a succession of strokes of blades, adapted to cut short slits to form a long continuous slit will operate more economically than blades corresponding in length to the length of the slits, and that this method lends itself more readily to a machine which is adapted for shearing differentslits or to shear beams of different sizes. In shearing beams for expanded trussed structures, it is also desirable to periodically feed the work the necessary stroke to form the bonds between the strands or the intact portions of the structures without idling the snear mechanism, and for this purpose the stroke of the feed bar M is in excess of the distance which the work is shifted between the shearing strokes of the blades and suflicient to feed the work the length of one slash and one bond, 'and there is a series of teeth m corresponding to the number of cuts necessary to form a complete slit and a space m40 between each series, so that the dog n of the work feed-carriage will be fed forwardly five strokes during which the shear mechanisms will make five cuts in succession to form an elongated slit and so that between each series of cuts the spaces m and the greater throw of bar M will cause a longer stroke to be imparted in the carriage N and the work so that between the successive series of operative strokes the work will be fed forwardly to cause the knives to clear the previously formed slits and leave bonds or intact portions between the ends of the slits.

In setting the shear mechanisms, they are placed so that eachmechanism will start a slit at the desired peint simultaneously and the commencing and cutting strokes for the slits along different lines will occur simultaneously, and periodically the increased stroke will cause the shear-blades to clear the previously formed slits to simultaneously form bonds, and as a result the work will be fed without idling the shear mechanism.

To automatically and individually control the cutting operation of the shear mechanisms A and A', to selectively render them inoperative and'leave unslitted portions adjacent the ends of the beam, as shown at the right of Fig. 9b, the carriage N has secured thereto, as at 3, a horizontal bar 02 which travels with and in advance of the carriage, and devices 05 (Fig. Sc) for operating the arms Z5 of the throw-out devices for the movable cutters of mechanisms A and A are adjustably clamped to said bar o2 and the angle bars 0 secured thereto. Bar 02 has secured to its underside a pair of angle bars 0, between which the vertical flange of the stationary angle bar 91,4 is disposed to guide the bar 02. Each of these controller devices comprises a pair of members 04 and 05 which may be clamped at any point to said bars 02, 0" by a bolt 0iG and the top member o5 of each controller is adapted to strike the lower end of a lever 07 which is pivoted to a bracket 09 which is fixed to one of the carriages of the shear-mechanisms A, A. Lever 07 comprises an arm 012 which is connected to and pulls a chain 01 which is guided on a sheave 011 mounted on said bracket and connected to an arm Z5. As a result, when a member 05 strikes the lever 0T shear-blades c/G in the forward movement of the carriage N, the lever will-operate the chain 010 to rock the shaft Z and swing the abutment Z out ofthe shoe Z3, so that the pin Z carried by the operating head w12 will not be operated to force the shear-blade a into or through the beam being sheared. Lever o7 is free to swing to the left independently of the chain 010, so that when the carriage is retracted after a beam has been sheared, the throw-out devices will not be operated.` The arms 07, of the shearing mechanisms A and A respectively are attached to the inner and outer sides of the bar 02, so that each of the controlling clamps will operate one of the throw-out levers o7 and clear `the other. By adjusting the throw-out devices along the bars 02, o, they may be set to control the shear-mechanisms A, A tok leave intact portions or at different portions of the beams. This exemplifies mechanism for automatically controlling' the shearing mechanism to render the shear-blades inoperative at predetermined points where it is desired to omit the slits, such as at the upper and lower slits of a beam used to form an expanded trussed joist. Y

Assuming the beam to be sheared, preparatory to expansion, is of a given size, the shear mechanisms A and A2 are set in longitudinal relation to one another according to the lengths of the slits desired for that work. The carriages a5 for the shear mechanisms A and A2 may be readily adjusted by turning the shafts c2. The cutter-heads am for the reciprocating shearblades@1l and the beds al@ for the stationary shear-blades a6 and anvils L00 are also adjusted transversely so the slits will be spaced transversely from one another as desired and according to the work and to retain the shear-blades in accurate coacting relation to shear the metal. The transverse adjustment of each head a?? of each shear-mechanism is effected by screws a2* and @25. The adjustment of the bed am for the stationary and the work-supports L60 of each mechanism is effected by the rotation of the screws als, w20. Rollers g, g with their flanges g are then adjusted transversely so that Vthe outer faces of the beam to be cut and the. guide-bars /L are adjust-ed transversely according to the width of the beam to be sheared. Adjustment of said rollers is effected by turning the shaft g17 which will operate the sprocket-chain gl and the sprocket around which it passes to adjust the bars andg" which will shift said rollers. Bars it, which guide the worky transversely through the shearing and resetting mechanisms7 are adjusted by turning the screw-shaft h5 to correspondingly adjust the standards h2 which support said bars, and the necessary heads 71,20 are applied in beams of diiferent lengths to prevent the bars L from being spread adjacent the shearing and resetting mechanisms. The rollers for supporting vthe sheared beam are then adjusted by means of the adjusting nuts 9 to bring them to the plane of the lower edges of the flanges of the beam to be sheared. A suitable feed bar M, formed with teeth m and spaces m40 to correspond to the number of cuts foreach slit and-the spacing between the slits, is connected to the rod m2 and extended through its guideway in the feed carriage N. The pivot pin m21 between link m20 and the slotted arm m19 is then adjusted to impart the correct stroke to the feed bar M. If the slits adjacent the anges of the beam are to be omitted from the ends thereof, controlling clamps `04, 05 are set ony the `bar 0f2 at such points that the shear-mechanisms A and A will be rendered Vineffective to shear the metal the correct distance while the ends of the bars are passing through said shear-mechanisms. These devices may be set according to the length of the beam, so that as beams of the same lengt-h are fed through the machine, each will be left uncut at its ends the extent desired.

The machinewill then be in readiness for operation according to its setting; the car-v riage N will be in its retracted position adjacent the lefthand end of the machine, and the beams to be sheared will be successively laid on the rollers g, g and between their flanges g and between barst., The motor K will then be started and the beam will be alternately advanced and sheared and the operation will be continued until the entire beam hasbeen sheared. The carriage N will then be retracted and the machine will be in readiness for shearing the next beam.

he friction between the bars o, o', 02 and the vertical flange of the track va4 is sufli- Y cient to prevent retraction ofthe carriage. To aid the operator in retracting the carf riage N after the cutting of a beam has been completed, a cable S is provided at its end with a hook (not shown) which is 'adapted to engage the plate 02 of the carriage. This cable is guided by a pulley s2 which is carried by a support fixed to the carriage of the shearing mechanism A and extends around an overhead sheave (not shown) and has attached thereto a weight, I j

In slashing a series of slits in beams or bars for expanded metal structures, it is desirableto 'avoid breaking the web adjacent the ends of the slits, and for, that purpose, each cutter all has a substantially straight central portion am and a rounded or inclined end am to form the frontend of each slash and a reversely roundedor in'- clined end,` all? for the rear end -of each Slash. The coacting edge ofv each cutterblade w is substantially straight. In action,

.ferently spaced apart;

the feed strokes of the Work while cutting the slits are shorter than the width of the blades so each blade a will produce the several connected slashes necessary to form a slit of the desired length. The first stroke of each series `forms the rear end of the slit. As a result, of this formation of the blades, a clean straight cut is formed and the portion am defiects the metal adjacent the foremost end of each slit without breaking the adjacent portion of the web and produces a similar result at the rear end of the slit, as illustrated in Figs. l0, 10b and l0.

The eccentrics 701 for the cutting mechanisms respectively and the resetting hammer b9 are relatively positioned on the shaft los and timed so that the cutter blades a will, during each downward stroke, successively slash the metal between the successive feed-strokes of the work. l

The shearing mechanisms A and A', for cutting the border slits a and a2, are positioned to operate successively upon the beams in advance of the cutter for shearing the central slit a', so that in its passage through the machine, the border slits are cut before the central slit is cut. This has been found to be an important feature in the operation of the machine in the production of expanded structures, such as joists and the like, because, in shearing the central slit of the end series which intersects the end of the beam, internal stresses are produced in the steel which cause the flanges at the ends to flare outwardly or-to become distorted, and in such condition it would be difficult to controllably guide the beam while. shearing the border slits. By the arrangement shown, the cutter mechanisms A and A cut the border lines of slits in the web of the work in advance of the cutting of the central line of slits, so that no shearing need be done after the deformation has occurred. This deformation does not present any difficulties in passing through the resetting mechanism, because the broad anvils will be. effective notwithstanding the deformation.

The invention exemplifies a machine for shearing beams which is adaptedto be adjusted for beams of different heights; for shearing slits of different lengths and difandV in which the beam is automatically and periodically fed an increased distance to leave the desired bonds in the web being sheared by mechanism which may be readily varied to feed different work. The invention also exemplifies a machine in which provision is made for automatically and selectively throwing out of action the shear machanisms where it is desired to leave the metal unsheared; also one in which provision is made for operating the resetting mechanism in conjunction with the shearing mechanisms, so different lines,

that the beam when it leaves the machine is ready for the expanding operation. The invention also exemplifies a machine in which the work is frictionally retarded to prevent overthrow and guided by springpressed means to permit distorted portions of the beam to be properly fed past the cutting mechanisms; in which the cutter blades are formed to deflect the end portions of the slits without breaking the web adjacent the ends of the slits; and in which the cutting mechanisms are arranged to operate upon a given portion of the beam in such succession that the slits which cause the greatest distortion are last cut in that portion of the beam.

In the operation of rotary shearing machines, it has been found that the time required in changing the cutters and the cost of providing cutters of different sizes renders them uneconomical where beams are to be differently sheared or for shearing beams of different sizes, while the machine herein set forth may be readily and quickly reset so 'that it is economical in operation and for shearing beams of different sizes.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a machine of the Vcharacter described, the combination of shearing mechanisms for cutting beams or bars on dierent lines, each comprising a reciprocable shearing element, mechanism for intermittently feeding the work longitudinally to said shearing mechanisms so the latter will cut series of connected slashes to form slits, individual mechanisms for reciprocating said elements, and means to relatively vary the spacing of the elements longitudinally of the work so they will operate at points differently spaced apart longitudinally.

2. In a machine of the character de` scribed, the combination of shearing mechanisms for cutting beams or bars on different lines, each comprising a reciprocable shearing element and a carriage, mechanism for intermittently feeding the work longitudinally to said shearing mechanisms so the latter will cut series of connected slashes to form slits, mechanisms for reciprocating said elements, and means to reiatively vary the spacing of the carriages longitudinally of the work so the shearing elements will operate at points differently spaced apart longitudinally of the work.

3. Inl a machine of the character described, the combination of shearing mechanisms for cutting metal bars or beams on each comprising a reciprocable shearing element,`mechanism for intermittently feeding the work longitudinally to said shearing mechanisms so the latter will cut series of connected slashes to form slits, means to relatively vary the longitudinal spacing between the elements, and means to relatively vary the tranverse spacings between the elements to vary the transverse spacing between the slits vcut in the work. A

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of lshearing mechanisnis for cutting metalk bars or beams on different lines, each comprising a reciprocableshearing element and a carriage, mechanism for intermittently feeding the work longitudinally to said shearingrmechanisms so the latter will cut series of connected slashes to form slits, means to relatively vary the longitudinal spacing between the elements, and means to relatively vary the transverse spacings between the elements to vary the transverse spacing between the elements to vary the transverse spacing between the slits cut in the work.

5. In a machine of the `character described, the combination of shearing mechanisms for simultaneously cutting metal beams or bars on different lines, each com-A prising a reciprocable shearing element, variable means for feeding the workstepby-step to said mechanisms so the latter will cut series of connected slashes to form slits, and means to relatively vary the longitudinal spacings of the elements.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of shearing mechanisms for simultaneously cutting metal beams or bars on differentlines, each comprising a reciprocable shearing element and a carriage, variable means for feeding the work step-by-step to said mechanisms so the latter will cut series of'connected slashes to form slits, and means to relatively vary the longitudinal spacing Abetween the carriages to vary the longitudinal spacings between the elements. l

7. VIn a machine of the character described, thel combination of shearing mechanisms for simultaneously cutting metal beams or bars on different lines, each comprising a reciprocable shearing element, means for feeding the work step-by-step to said mechanisms comprising a replaceable bar, and means to relatively vary the longitudinal spacings of the elements.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of shearing mechanisms for cutting metal bars or beams on different lines, each comprising a reciprocable shearing element7 mechanism for intermittently feeding the work longitudinally to said shearing mechanisms, so that elements will alternately cut a series of connected slashes to form slits and leave bonds between the ends ofthe slits, mechanism for reciprocating said elements, and means to relatively vary the;` longitudinal spacing between the shearing elements so they will operate at points diiferently'spaced apart longitudinally of the work.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of shearing mechanisms for cutting metal bars or beams on different lines, each comprising a reciprocable shearing element, mechanism for intermitently feeding the Work longitudinally to said shearing mechanisms, so the elements will alternatly cut a series of connected slashes toform slits and'leave bonds between the ends of the slits, mechanism for reciprocating said elements, means to relatively vary the longitudinal spacing between the shearing elements so they Ywill operate at points differently spacedaapart longitudinally of the work, and means to relatively adjust the elements transversely to vary the transverse spacing between the slit-S cut in the work. Y

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of shearing'mechanisms for cutting metal barsor beams on different lines7 each comprising a reciprocable shearing element, mechanism for intermittently feeding the work longitudinally to said shearing mechanisms, so the elements will alternately cut a series of connected slashes to form .slits and leave bonds between the ends of the slits comprising a variable controller, mechanism for reciprocating said elements, and meansto relatively vary the longitudinal spacing between the shearing elements so they will operate at points differently spaced apart longitudinally of the work.

ll. In a machine of the characterl described, thevcombination of shearing mechanisms for cutting metal'bars or beams o n different lines, each comprising a reciprocable shearing element, mechanism for intermittently feeding the work longitudinally to said shearing mechanisms, so the elements will alternately cut a series of connected slashes to from slits and leave bonds between the ends of the slits comprising a variable controller, mechanism for reciprocating said elements, and means to relatlvely vary the between the shearing Y longitudinal spacing elements so they will operate at points differently spaced apart longitudinally of the work, and means to relatively Ladjust 'the elements transversely to` vary the transverse spacing between the slits cut in the work.

12. In a machine o f the character described, the combination'of a series of shearing mechanisms for cutting metal bars or beams on different lines, each comprising a reciprocable shearing element and a carriage, one of the carriages being stationary and the others movable relatively to one an- 

